I’m not sure how, but Don heard about the origins of Unitarianism in Transylvania, and decided to travel there in 1990. He and Chica ended up travelling around Romania and actually meeting the Unitarian bishop, Georgy Andrassi, in Torda. Here is a photo of them, currently on display in the Partner Church Corner, in the MUF library. It was an audacious adventure.
Don attended the presentation by Paul Ratzlaff in 1993 where the idea of a relationship with a church in the village of Sinfalva, Romania was first discussed. Don was a founding member of the Partner Church Committee and for the past twenty five or so years, he had participated in our meetings and events and fund-raisers.
Don was the most energetic and faithful member of our committee, even though he had no personal connection with Hungarian culture. He was just fascinated with the history, and the first glimmerings of religious tolerance which Unitarianism of the 16th century represented. Here is a brief history of Unitarianism in Transylvania, written by Don in 1998 for a lay-led Sunday Service we did. The second page is a translation of the Edict of Torda of 1568, adapted for youth, which we recited at that service.
Don also enjoyed the connection with the popular vampire myth, which does have some grounding in history, in the story of Vlad the Impaler, or Vlad the Dragon, called “Vlad Dracul” in Romanian. Don usually brought a bottle of vampire wine, which is a red wine that looks like blood, I guess, to our Partner Church Committee meetings at Judy and John Oehler’s house.